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Twilight tennis action www.spec.com.au Top volunteers P. 5 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 Keppel Prince boss: ‘I am gobsmacked’ Fury over Local MP’s renewables comments CHALPAT SONTI KEPPEL Prince managing director Steve Garner has hit back at a claim from Member for South-West Coast Roma Britnell that the Victorian Renewable Energy Target does not increase jobs, saying 150 would go at his business should the VRET be scrapped. Mr Garner was responding to comments by Ms Britnell in Wednesday’s Observer in which she outlined her reasons for opposing the VRET, a stance which is at odds with advocacy by local business leaders. Ms Britnell said that while she believed renewable energy was the way of the future, targets such as the VRET – in which the state government has committed to a certain percentage of power generation from renewable sources – did not work, pointing to examples such as South Australia. The Liberals’ policy is for the VRET to be scrapped. However, Mr Garner said Ms Britnell was misinformed. “As chairman of the Committee For Portland I’m just dumbfounded,” he said. “We’re trying to push Portland as being the renewable energy hub of Australia and that we have a sitting member coming out and publicly stating the VRET doesn’t make any difference, or there’s no benefits, just amazes me. “As the second-largest employer in the city of Portland I am gobsmacked by her statement it hasn’t made any difference. “My (Keppel Prince) board of directors wouldn’t have approved $2.5 million capital for expansion that we’ve put into place if not for the certainty of the VRET,” he said. “We’ve increased our production lines from two to four and we’ve employed 61 people just this year in preparation for VRET projects. “If we didn’t have the VRET, Keppel Prince is out of business in Portland and there would be 150 jobs lost. With VRET we’re looking to expand our business because we have certainty as to what the future is going to be. “Without VRET and the local content rules, we can’t secure jobs because we’re smashed by overseas imported stuff as can be seen right now with (parts for the Murra Warra wind farm near Horsham being brought through the Port of Portland). “If you don’t have a VRET or a target driving investment then you’re not going to have projects being built.” While Keppel Prince had won several contracts through local content rules – which the Liberals have also pledged to retain or expand – the rules were only viable in conjunction with the VRET, which gave energy companies the certainty to build projects in the first place. “In Geelong the renewable energy hub being set up by Vestas, that’s only because of the VRET,” he said. “And in Ballarat, the training centre for renewable energy technicians is the same.” Many local businesses were also beneficiaries, from local and imported components. The port was seeing a boost with the number of ships bringing in wind farm components, others such as G.R. Carr and Mibus Bros were either doing or considering civil works in relation to the farms and transport companies were carrying the components all over the state, he said. “And the smelter has given land to be developed for hard stand,” Mr Garner said. “I say clearly Roma is out of touch with what’s happening in the Portland region in relation to this subject.” Mr Garner said he had received support for the VRET from other election candidates and also praised the role of State Member for Western Victoria James Purcell in ensuring the VRET passed into law. “James Purcell stood up in Parliament and got the VRET over the line,” he said. “Still today I and my staff congratulate him on standing up and being man enough to put through the legislation and that he can now today see the benefit of.” • Meanwhile, Ms Britnell moved to clarify some of her comments yesterday, after they had been misreported in other media. “When I said there had been no impacts (from a Renewable Energy Target), I was referring to South Australia and the fact that new renewable projects were continuing, irrespective of the fact RET incentives have dried up,” she said. “I remain committed to developing renewable energy in a responsible and balanced manner that retains affordable and reliable energy supply. I recognise that renewables have and will continue to make a significant contribution to the South-West Coast region.” • See what all the South-West candidates have to say about the VRET on pages 12 and 13. SILLY socks for a cause… McDonald’s Portland shift manager Will Sperzel with one of the items on offer to raise funds for McHappy Day. McHappy Day is here again CHALPAT SONTI WOULD you like silly socks with that? Yes, tomorrow is McHappy Day, and this year McDonald’s Portland is going all out to make sure the fundraiser is a success. There will be plenty of ways to donate, from guessing the lollies in the jar (for a gold coin donation) to a raffle, $2 from every Big Mac sold on Saturday, purchasing silly socks or helping hands, and much more. Superheroes are the theme of the day, with face painting and lots of activities for the kids planned for the party room on Saturday. McDonald’s Portland shift manager Will Sperzel said the franchise hoped to match last year’s fundraising figure of about $1000. The money goes to Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides accommodation for rural and regional people whose children have to go to hospital at six venues across the state, largely in Melbourne. Ronald McDonald House Victoria/Tasmania chief executive Peter Bishop said: “McHappy Day is a great community day, and I’d encourage Victorian residents to get involved by heading into a McDonald’s restaurant this Saturday.” “This is our biggest fundraising day of the year and truly helps make a difference for families in their time of need.” Picture: OLIVIA COTTIER 18112oc06 OBSERVER SPORT $2.00 inc GST